This Small Unsuspecting MN Bar Offers Up Big Flavors & Fun

If good food and adventure are on your list for 2026, buckle up, as the options in Minnesota seem to be endless. I had the chance this weekend to revisit a small, hole-in-the-wall bar that serves up, in my opinion, some of the best burgers! The bar, situated in a small Scandinavian town, is just steps away from a museum and minutes from 2 state parks.

Blink & You'd Miss This Flavorful Hole-In-The-Wall Bar

Meister's, which can be found in Scandia, Minnesota, is one of those places that, if you were to blink going by, you might miss it. The good news is that there are generally enough people inside the place that you'd at least see the cars parked along the street to know to stop.

The bar/restaurant is pretty no-nonsense, with enough seating for 50-70 people and a bartop that extends about 3/4 of the building. The menu features hand-cut fries and housemade onion rings, plus the burgers, in my opinion, are what make this place stand out. (Don't sleep on the Friday night Fish Fry's)

Since 1959, good food and a great time have been served up in this town of 4,000.

Steps Away From A Museum & Minutes From 2 State Parks

Meister's sits just off the main drag in Scandia and is just minutes from a hidden gem. The "Gammelgården Museum of Scandia honors the Swedish immigrants who founded the community and celebrates the story of all immigrants to their new land." 

The museum itself is really only open one day during the winter months, January 24th this year, for Vinterfest, but is open normally from May through early December. The museum is a great way to spend part of your day, learning about Swedish immigrants who came to the area and settled.

If you are more into exploring the outdoors, you can take a short drive to one of two state parks in the area, which include Interstate State Park in Taylors Falls and William O'Brien State Park in nearby Marine on St. Croix.

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Both state parks offer you the chance to hike and take in the sights and sounds of the St. Croix River Valley.

A bonus attraction not too far from Scandia is the Franconia Sculpture Park, which is more of a warm-weather attraction than a winter attraction.

READ MORE FROM PAUL SHEA

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